KC Jena takes over as Chairman, International Union of Railways

New Delhi, Sep 6 (UNI) The newly appointed Railway Board Chairman K C Jena today took over as Chairman of the Paris-based International Union of Railways (UIC), the apex body of rail operators and associations all over the world.

Mr Jena will be the Chairman of UIC till December 2008. Former Railway Board Chairman J P Batra had taken over as the first non-European Chairman of UIC for a two-year term in January this year.

Indian Railways has been actively associated with the UIC since 1998 and has played a pivotal role in its restructuring to transform it into a global institution.

As part of the restructuring, six regional units of UIC have been formed and UIC-Asia will be headquartered in the national capital. Indian Railways will facilitate the setting up of UIC-Asia regional units.

A ministry official today said the Railways would also provide all assistance for the International Railway Strategic Management Institute (IRSMI) that would come up at Chanakyapuri in south Delhi.

UIC is an international association of rail operators and organisations established in 1922 with headquarters in Paris having 224 members worldwide.

The organisation provides a forum to different railway organisations in the world to undertake joint research projects and develop strategies for implementation of international projects like inter-continental freight corridors and high speed rail.

It also helps railway managers across the globe to develop skills through its International Railway Strategic Management Institute.

The priority areas for UIC are increased worldwide investments in rail transport and establishment of rail transport as the key link in the global logistics chain.

UNI